The Banana's where light and fragile . The Carbon bird is my air plane of choice ,then the Carbon Mini blade ,of course there is the D60 as well as a number of moulded planks available now like the wind burner or the new version of the Zipper with an improved foil . there is also the Sunbird 60 in a thread in this forum ,but I'd be a little worried about Quality issues in recent times

[QUOTE=steve wenban;Sunbird 60 in a thread in this forum ,but I'd be a little worried about Quality issues in recent times[/QUOTE]
Steve do you mean issues of quality from the original manufacturer of Sunbird or the HK equivalent?
Cliff

1.5M/60" isn't very popular so there aren't very many choices. Although the DSmodel Ocelot holds the current WR in the 1.5M/60" class, the Aeromod Prodij-HM is the hottest 1.5M/60" F3F airframe currently in production. There are several models not in production that are probably as fast as the Prodij-HM, but the Prodij-HM is certainly one of the fastest I've ever seen. The Mibo Mini Terminator and the Aer-o-Tec Insect seem like they could be pretty fast, but they are unproven and very expensive. They might not be so bad since you are already in Europe. The Sunbird is not really a racer, it's more of an all-rounder.

You can still get the Baudis Banana, it isn't the absolute best airframe, but it is fast and definitely still capable of winning. Pilot skill is very important in the 1.5M/60" class and in the rare races it is quite common to see older designs upset newer ones, so it's not worth fretting too much over airframe advantages.

D60 is certainly fast on the frontside, needs a good blow to get the best from it tho.

I currently own a Carbon Bird and a Sunbird in the 60" class, but have also had the Banana and Flying Fish (aka Genesis). I was disappointed in the Banana, as mentioned too light and flexable. F/Fish was ok but lack of flaps meant that only flying it was enjoyable, landing was a bit hit or miss using spoilerons, but I don't get on with them TBH.

The layup on my Sunbird is good, it's not a HK or Olec supplied version, mine came from Sloperacer. It's my 2nd SB and the quality is noticably better than the earlier version I had. Wing skins and boom are noticably stiffer.

Flying wise there's not a lot of difference between the Bird and the SB. Last time I flew both back to back I think the SB was slightly faster, but it is slightly heavier. But there's not a lot in it.

I think you do have to consider what exactly HK are getting from Olec, HK's versions are a lot cheaper than the 2nds that Olec offer. Not sure I'd take the gamble of a HK version myself. But provided RCRCM's QC doesn't go down the pan due to knocking out to HK, I'd certainly get another Sunbird. They fly really well and the big flaps are fantastic for crow. However if their QC does go bad, then I think either the Ocelot I or a Prodij HM is next for me.

The Prodij is getting good reports but is top $$$ for a 60", but still cheaper than a D60 (in the UK anyway).

I currently am flying a Prodij HM. Sold my Carbon Bird after getting the Prodij up and running. Both may have equal top end speed, but the Prodij is so much faster through turns, and accelerates quicker that it would leave the Bird behind in an F3F style competition. Both seem equally tough..the Bird has better build quality, but the Prodij has that unique Aeromod design thing going for it. Bird is the easier build out, by far.

I'm not sure if they are still available, but the Scorpion was a great flying, fast turning ship also.

You can't beat a mini dragon or Fredy for bang for your buck or hoon ability. It will also scape around in surprisingly light lift, but the heavier the better, load it up with ballast, fly it in 30 plus, and it's transformed to one of the fastest baddest ship out there.